The fearless 17-year-old Melbourne Beach native who grew up on the small waves in Brevard County — just like 11-time world champion Kelly Slater of Cocoa Beach — is now the No. 1-ranked women's surfer in the world

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 8: Caroline Marks of USA advances to the final of the 2019 Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast after winning Semi Final Heat 1 at Duranbah Beach on April 8, 2019 in Queensland, Australia. Kelly Cestari, WSL/Cestari

The youngest, at 15, to ever qualify for a major surfing tour, Marks had stunned the surfing world a year ago by finishing seventh in the final world rankings.

This year's final tour rankings will go a long way to determining spots on the rosters for the Tokyo Games in 2020, when surfing will make its Olympic debut.

It was Marks' fourth career win, coming on the heels of her second straight Florida Pro title at Sebastian Inlet, just a few miles from where she grew up. She also has won in Los Cabos, Mexico.

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Melbourne Beach's Caroline Marks, together with Chauncey Robinson and Stevie Pittman, anticipates a lot of traveling in 2019 on the world surf tours.
Hillard Grossman, inactive

Marks, who defeated her "hero," Carissa Moore of Hawaii, 13.83-11.67 in the final, had earlier defeated seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia in the quarterfinals.

"I was actually laughing because the first time I came to this event I was in the trials and I just lost in the first heat every single time, so to now win the event is amazing," said Marks, who was in Cocoa Beach late last year to get a glimpse of her sand sculpture in front of the famed Ron Jon Surf Shop.

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 8: Caroline Marks of USA advances to the final of the 2019 Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast after winning Semi Final Heat 1 at Duranbah Beach on April 8, 2019 in Queensland, Australia.(Photo: Kelly Cestari, WSL/Cestari )

Moore had high praise for Marks, calling her a "really amazing surfer."

"This has been the best event and best week of my life," Marks said. "There’s still a lot of work to do for the rest of the year, but I’m definitely going to enjoy this moment.”

Marks' family now splits their time between New Smyrna Beach and San Juan Capistrano, California.

Marks' former surfing coach on the Space Coast, C.T. Taylor, called it "an incredible performance."

"I told her one time that by 16 or 17 she could qualify for sure, and that happened, and to just keep doing what she's doing," said Taylor, a Satellite Beach native who coached Marks as young as 10 and competed on the World Qualifying Series for 12 years.

"She has natural ability, but at that level you also need family support and the right mindset, which she has. I mean, you could be a really great surfer and have a bad attitude and that won't get you far. It's not just one thing that makes an athlete great."

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